To Slingbox or not?

[Alvysyngr]

I have had a Tivo for about 7 years and have added a second one about 2 years ago - ...I upgraded both but am a little annoyed that the HD units are so expensive, the continuing costs of the unit (monthly) and the need to upgrade....

so....what can I expect to lose or gain from buying a Slingbox Media Pro (about $200 on ebay)....

Do tey connect to the home network and allow streaming from a pc? thanks!

[Bluesfan77]

I can't help, but I was about to post for similar advice. However, I only have one Tivo and am trying to figure out if I should get a second Tivo or go with a Slingbox and a Sling-catcher when it comes out.

[ForrestB]

I don't understand the comparison - a Slingbox doesn't record shows and doesn't allow timeshifting so it won't replace a Tivo.

A 250 GB hard drive for your Tivo will run you about $60 at your local computer/office superstore. 500 GB hard drives are available for $99. You'll need a PC with (2) IDE ports to copy the Tivo software from the old Tivo drive to the new drive.

[magnus]

Pro
----------
Watch your Tivo from any place with a broadband connection

Watch your Tivo from any PC/Mac within your home (faster than 1st option)

Use your Tivo just like you would from within your home

Cons
----------
Only one person can connect at a time

Whatever the person is watching at the physical location.... you would have to watch on the slingbox. Unless you were to change the channel on them.

Picture quality is not as good as being there but it's usually acceptable


So, the slingbox won't really replace a Tivo but it will allow you to control one (gotta get the Slinbox AV or HD to do that though).

Originally Posted by Alvysyngr

I have had a Tivo for about 7 years and have added a second one about 2 years ago - ...I upgraded both but am a little annoyed that the HD units are so expensive, the continuing costs of the unit (monthly) and the need to upgrade....

so....what can I expect to lose or gain from buying a Slingbox Media Pro (about $200 on ebay)....

Do tey connect to the home network and allow streaming from a pc? thanks!

[nhaigh]

I travel for work and use the Slingbox on two of my TiVo's all the time. It is not a TiVo replacement, it is a TiVo enhancement giving me remote control and viewing of my TiVo and its contents from pretty well anywhere on my laptop or mobile phone.

I am also looking forward to the Slingcatcher when it is released. I had planned on putting an S3 in my bedroom to share TiVo content but as MRV is not available on the S3 I see the slingcatcher as a possible alternative for SD content. It will also be cheaper to run than a second S3

[BruceShultes]

By the way, from what I have read on the DBStalk forum, the slingbox will also work with the HR20.

Some people in the Cutting Edge forum appear to be using a slingbox to download the latest software updates for testing while they are away from home.

I do not own a slingbox myself and do not plan on getting one, since I am now retired.

[nhaigh]

Originally Posted by BruceShultes

By the way, from what I have read on the DBStalk forum, the slingbox will also work with the HR20.

Slingbox is NOT a TiVo device. There is a model to work with any video source and even one with a tuner. Any cable, cablebox, DVR, satelite reviever that can output video and can be controlled via IR (PS3's are out!) can be used with slingbox.

[Bluesfan77]

ForrestB - Ah, what I get for posting a reply at 1am. I forgot to add that for my particular situation, I'm wanting to get my Tivo'd content to the bedroom. But the more I think about it, there are more benefits to the Tivo than Slingbox...for my situation.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Alvysyngr

I have had a Tivo for about 7 years and have added a second one about 2 years ago - ...I upgraded both but am a little annoyed that the HD units are so expensive, the continuing costs of the unit (monthly) and the need to upgrade....

so....what can I expect to lose or gain from buying a Slingbox Media Pro (about $200 on ebay)....

Do tey connect to the home network and allow streaming from a pc? thanks!

Originally Posted by Bluesfan77

ForrestB - Ah, what I get for posting a reply at 1am. I forgot to add that for my particular situation, I'm wanting to get my Tivo'd content to the bedroom. But the more I think about it, there are more benefits to the Tivo than Slingbox...for my situation.

what i believe that you really need is an av audio/video transmitter and receiver with an infrared remote extender. like this:


A/V Transmitter

the link is to the place where i bought mine. just hook the transmitter to your tivo and the receiver to the tv located in your bedroom.
--
Alan

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

what i believe that you really need is an av audio/video transmitter and receiver with an infrared remote extender. like this:


A/V Transmitter

the link is to the place where i bought mine. just hook the transmitter to your tivo and the receiver to the tv located in your bedroom.
--
Alan

oops! my reply may be a bit off target since i incorrectly thought that both posts that i quoted were from the op.

sorry!
--
Alan